§ Mr. Grocottasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money was spent in the Birmingham regional health authority on paying for agency nurses in 1978; and how many additional nurses at current rates of pay could have been employed for the same money.
§ Mr. DeakinsIn the financial year ended 31 March 1978, the money spent on agency nurses in the West Midlands regional health authority was £413,833. In Birmingham area health authority (teaching) it was £346,101. Assuming standard staffing costs, the number of nurses who could have been employed was 92 in the West Midlands regional health authority and 77 in the Birmingham area health authority (teaching). Recruiting staff to some specialties and in some districts became a problem in mid-1977 and has led to an increase in the use of agency nurses.